Fish holding device



Sept. 19, 1944. A F. w. BENTON Erm. 2,358,682

' FISH HoLDI'NcrfV DEvIcE FiledAug. 26,- 1945 ELE- l Patented Sept. 19, 1944 1j i pannenV ,STAT

ES PTENT.- OFFICE Fr-nk Wrentonananrthur C. Prterfield, 1 Y Wilson, N. Cf.:

Application Augulstlzs, 1943,'k serial No. 500,130

2 Claims.

'This invention relates to a device for holdingfish, and one of its objects is to provide -a device for holding a'sh by itshead or'tail while it-is being 'scaled and cleaned, or for holding itsl head back of the gills to enable a shhook to be re' moved from'the `mouth brv the throat of the fish. rfor' use in place of a gaff vhook to grip a hooked sh to lift him out of 'water after being brought' in reach, and for many other analogous purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple and inexpensive in construction'reliable and ecient in use in enabling a iish to be gripped at the head,

Vtail or about the body for convenience in performing different operations, and which may be readily and conveniently manipulated in use.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement 'of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed,

reference being had to the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a sh holding device embodying our invention, showing in full and dotted lines the jaws in closed and fully opened positions.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1,

`looking toward the inner face of one of the jaws.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section-on the line 3-3 vof Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of yone of the toothed y gripping plates removed from its jaw.

In carrying our invention into practice we provide a holding device comprising a pair of counterpart clamping jaws l and 2 which are formed at one end with substantially circular portions 3 and 4 arranged side by side and which are apertured for passage of a pivot pin, rivet or bolt 5 ranged adjacent the pivoted ends of the jaws and its arms 8 and 9 extending forwardly therefrom and bearing against the inner faces Vof the res'pec-y y tive jaws. Oneof these arms, as the arm 8, is

xed to the jaw A2 'by a'pin or other suitable fastening member I0, while the other arm Q is formed with a longitudinal slot, II for the vpassage of a Y pin or other suitable fastening'member I2, where` by said arm 9 is slidably connected to the jaw I to allow relative shifting movements between such varm and the spring in the opening and closing movements of the jaws. With thisconstruction the jaw 2 may be considered as a stationary jaw and the jaw I as a movable jaw movable'under pressure toward the jaw 2 against the resistance of the spring and movable away from theujaw 2 by reaction of the spring when the pressure on v the jaw I is relaxed or removed. Y

Mounted'upon the inner faces of the jaws between their transverse centers and free ends are toothed gripping elements I3 and I4. Each of these elements comprises an oblong rectangular plate secured to its jaw by suitable fastening members I5 and having its longitudinal side edges and its front transverse edge disposedV in alinement with the side edges and front edge at the free end of the jaw. Each plate has its front whereby the jaws are pivotally connected for opening and closing movements. From these portions 3 and 4 the relatively outer surfaces of the jaws are longitudinally curved or rounded toward their opposite or free ends to give the jaws -a desired tapered formation and to provide outer bent into U-shape with its return portion 1 ar-V edge bent at an angle thereto and formed to provide'a row of triangular'gripping teeth I6, the teeth of the plates I3 and I4being arranged to project toward each other-for Vcooperative gripr Y ping action when the jaws are closed. Each plate is also provided in` rear'of it's'teeth I6 with two sets or groups of integral triangular teeth I1 bent therefrom and arranged in staggered/order, each group comprising a front single centrally disposed tooth and two teeth disposed in rear thereof in Vtransverse alinements and on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the plate, said groups being placed one in rear of the'other and at different distances froml the tooth row I6. .The arrangement is thus such that theteeth I6 .may be used alone for a gripping action or inconnection with the first set of teeth I'I or with both sets of teeth I'I on the jaws, according to the portion f of the sh to begrasped for a firm holding action. Teeth Ymay be arranged in different order',- Y

if desired. l

In the use of the device, the device is grasped in the hand and operated like a pair of tweezers to grip a desired portieriV of the fish. In gripping a fish by the tail `in vscaling the frontgripping teeth I6 are used. In gripping a sh by the head While scaling and cleaning it,V holding itshead back of the gills While removing a jshhook from the mouth or throat of the fish, the front teeth I6 and front group of teeth I1 are used. In gripping a fish about the head or middle or other portion of the body all of the teeth may be used to secure a firm hold. All teeth are also used in employing the device in place of a gaff hook to grip a hooked iish after bringing him tothe surface of the water and alongside a boat in landing a large sh. The device may also be used for otherpurposes in handlingfsh and other objects which are to be held firmly' while being manipulated or operated upon.

The construction described adapts the device l to beV economically made and readily and con. veniently operated and also adapts the jaws, if desired, to be made of wood, metal or plastic materials, to which the gripping plates may be independent clamping jaws pivotally connected at one end for opening and closing movements, springs means disposed between the jaws adjacent the pivoted ends thereof for normally holding the jaws open, and a metallic gripping plate secured to the inner face of each jaw between the free end of the jaw and spring and spaced from the latter, each plate being provided with a transverse row of integral gripping teeth struck up therefrom and disposedin alinement with the free end of the jaw and groups of gripping teeth arranged in staggered order and disposed at dif- "ferent distances from the free end of the jaw.

2. A fish holding device comprising a pair of clamping jaws having substantially circular, at

"disk-shaped portions at one end arranged in parallel relation and pivotally connected to coufastened in the manner shown or in'any other suitable manner. The gripping plates may be formed by stamping them from sheet metal or in any other suitable manner and, while the construction thereof shownv is preferred, other forms preserving Vtheir structural merits may be lemplayed. It will alsobe understood that, ,while the generalconstructionof vthe device as disclosed is preferred, changes 'in the form, construction Vand arrangement of its parts, falling within the scope of the appended claims, maybe made without departing from the `spirit or sacricing anyk of the advantages of the invention.

V Havingthus described our invention, we claim: 1. --Afish holding device'` comprising a pair of ple the jaws foropening and closing movements, a U-shaped spring disposed between the jaws adjacent'the pivoted ends thereof with its bight portion'abutting against said ends and its arms projecting therefrom toward the free ends of the jaws, one of said arms being fixed to one of the jaws and the other arm beingslidably connected with the other jaw, and gripping plates secured tothe inner faces of the jaws and provided withrgrippingA teeth` bent therefrom and arranged at different distances from the free ends of the jaws andin advance of and spaced from the arms of the spring. ,i

VrFRANKV W. BENTON.

ARTHUR C. PORTERFIELD. 

